LETTER: Make your voice heard about climate change

Wednesday

Dec 5, 2018 at 6:00 AM

Climate change is already impacting Plymouth.

To the editor:

Climate change is already impacting Plymouth.

Sea level in Plymouth has already increased about 8 inches, resulting in damaged property, higher insurance rates, falling coastal real estate values, early signs of cascading failure in our fisheries, and costly damage to infrastructure. Unfortunately, this is just the beginning; the carbon already in our atmosphere virtually assures that we will see more temperature increase, stronger storms, more stiflingly hot summer days, and another 1-3 feet of sea level increase before our youngest children have children of their own. Like it or not, we are leaving a colossal problem to future generations; every day we fail to address this makes the problem worse, and longer-lasting.

Many government officials compromise climate action.

The National Climate Assessment, released on Nov. 24, says that climate change could cost the U.S. billions of dollars. The report was backed by 13 federal agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency. In response to it, Andrew Wheeler, head of the EPA, spoke to diminish the report’s warnings, saying during a Nov. 28 interview at The Washington Post: “I don’t think the assessment took into account the technological advancements and innovation we’ve seen.” Wheeler did not cite a single example, and acknowledged that he had not read most of the report. Many other officials, including our president, have spoken to weaken the climate issue and the report.

There is still hope for federal action.

Although the National Climate Assessment was widely covered in the news, you may not have heard that on Nov. 28, a bipartisan group of congressmen (Francis Rooney, R-Fla.; Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa.; Ted Deutch, D-Fla.; John Delaney, D-Md.; and Charlie Crist, D-Fla.) introduced the “Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2018,” which directly addresses the root cause of global warming by charging fossil fuel companies for carbon emissions, and returning those fees to individual households to defray the resulting increased cost of gasoline and other fossil fuels (e.g. natural gas). This bill will drive down America’s carbon pollution and help bring climate change under control. Similar legislation enacted in other countries (Canada, for example) has been effective at reducing emissions, improving people’s health through cleaner air, growing the economy through rebates to households and job growth, while not growing taxes since the fees are returned to the people.

This groundbreaking bill will probably not get far in the current lame duck session of Congress, but it sets the stage for the next session of Congress.

What can people do?

The climate situation is serious and many types of mitigating action are needed. But there is hope. We already have the know-how and technology to reduce carbon emissions and protect our homes and communities from the worst impacts of climate change. There are many people in Congress who understand this threat and want to act. They need our support.

You can contact our 9th District Congressman, Bill Keating (D-Mass., tel. 508-746-9000) to say that you care about climate change and ask him to support the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2018. When enough citizens tell their Congress members what they want, we will make real progress. The upside potential is enormous. Call or write your Congress person and make your voice heard.